The Tribune – After route change, Personal Rapid Transport System (PRTS) tenders open today

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20. Fresh tender bids for the state government’s ambitious personal rapid transport system (PRTS) project will be opened tomorrow.

The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had invited fresh bids in view of the alterations in the PRTS route following apprehensions by heritage lovers that the then design may take a toll on the walled city’s architecture and its historic landmarks.

Sources said the PIDB had invited bids for the project through an advertisement dated February 22, 2013.

They said the last date for receiving the bids was April 26, which was later extended till May 21. This means it may take another few months for the work to begin on the ground.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said the tenders will be opened tomorrow and the work will be awarded after a comparative analysis of the bids, which may take a month or so. He said the due process had to be followed once the PRTS route was changed.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had laid the foundation stone of the project amid much fanfare in December 2011, but the project has made a little headway ever since.

In July last, The Tribune had highlighted the concerns of the heritage lovers that the project will eclipse the view of the holy city’s landmarks like the Jallianwalla Bagh and the Golden Temple. The government later changed the route plan from the railway station to the Golden Temple.

Altered route

Under the new plan, the guideway for the PRTS will not enter the walled city through Hall Gate. Instead, it will take a left turn towards Chitra Cinema and get into the city through Rambagh Chowk

From there, it will pass through Bijliwala Chowk to reach Katra Jaimal Singh before heading towards the Golden Temple

There is also a plan that the guideway will span across the approach road to the Jallianwalla Bagh and the Golden Temple to facilitate the clear view of these landmarks

The height of the guideway will be raised to 30 feet on both these stretches, as against the height of 20 feet in other sections of the route

Similarly, the other route from the Inter State Bus Terminal to the Golden Temple will pass through Maha Singh Gate to reach the Saragarhi Parking before heading towards the Golden Temple

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The Tribune – Pranab voices concern over India lagging behind in higher education; Confers doctorate on Afghan President Karzai at LPU

Vibha Sharma, Tribune News Service

Phagwara, May 20. President Pranab Mukherjee today voiced deep concern over the flight of bright young minds from India for “better quality higher education” abroad and the country’s lost position in the field.

Pitching for the revival of India’s “lost glory” in the area of higher education, Mukherjee urged academic institutions to take the lead in providing education conforming to international standards.

Speaking at the third convocation ceremony of Lovely Professional University, a function which was also attended by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Mukherjee regretted the fact that there was not a single Indian university among the top universities in the world even though there was a time when the country was known as a hub of world-class universities with the likes of Nalanda and Takshashila that attracted scholars from all over the world.

The President said these famed universities continued to function as an outstanding system until about 1200 AD and from there on, India lost its position to other countries.

“And today, we do not have any top-ranked university. The ancient Indian universities attracted students from all over the world but today, many bright young minds from India go abroad for better quality higher education.

It will be our undoing if we cannot draw our students to seek higher education in their own country. How we can revive the lost glory of our higher education system is a matter of deep introspection,” he said.

He urged Indian universities to create at least one centre of excellence with some out-of-box thinking and innovative research that can turn theoretical knowledge into a marketable product. Underlining the need of vocationalisation of education, he said: “There cannot be progress without innovation, research and development.”

Mukherjee also conferred an honorary degree on Afghanistan President at the convocation – the first honoris causa degree awarded by the Punjab-based private university with nearly 30,000 on-campus students.

He also awarded gold medals and degrees to qualified students.

Terming education as a tool that can significantly shape the minds of the youth, the President also urged universities and other institutes of higher learning to take the lead to start a sustained programme for meeting contemporary moral challenges.

“The recent rise in crimes against women and children is a cause for deep concern. It not only calls for effective measures for their safety and security but also underlines the need in us to sit back and introspect and find ways to arrest the moral degradation in our society,” he said.

He also pointed out that the shortage of faculty had hampered India’s efforts to improve the standard of education and urged for immediate corrective steps.

Meanwhile, Karzai, who was the chief guest at the convocation, praised India for its help in the betterment of Afghanistan. India, as a friend of Afghanistan, had made immense contribution in the uplift of its youths, he said adding that the country had “contributed $ 2 billion from the hard-earned money of its tax-payers for the betterment of Afghanistan.”

He also lauded India’s fast growth in industry, technology and economy. “India is on the path of progress and prosperity. It is one of the greatest civilisations on earth. The power and energy you (students and youths) generate is good for India and beyond,” Karzai, who is here on a three-day visit, said.

Highlighting the need for development of education, especially higher education, in Afghanistan, he said India had 2,000 Afghan students studying in its various universities. Karzai also apologised to Mukherjee, the Government of Punjab and LPU students for having come late. “My plane broke down, thankfully on the ground,” he said, evoking peals of laughter.

The Punjab CM urged the LPU management to open an institute for talented, poor students of border areas.

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The Tribune – Man who set family ablaze held, failed in his attempt twice earlier

Jupinderjit Singh, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 18. The main accused in the case in which six members of a family were set on fire in Jattawali village did not commit the crime on the spur of the moment but was planning it for over three months. The accused, Lakhwinder, made attempts to commit the crime twice earlier but could not succeed as all the family members were not asleep both the times.

This was revealed by Lakhwinder to the police following his arrest from Ambala this morning. A police team of Ferozepur district nabbed him near the Ambala railway station.

Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinderpal Singh told The Tribune that the cold-bloodied planning and the way the accused set six sleeping persons on fire suggested how cruel he was. “I have not seen such a ghastly act in my life. The accused did not think twice before setting the aged mother of his enemy Balwant Singh on fire along with others. Such criminals need to be psychoanalysed,” he said.

He said the accused was not remorseful even though the two families had no major enmity. Lakhwinder confessed to the police that he had visited Balwant’s house on Lohri (January 13) this year and had a tiff with him, following which he had decided to kill him and his family.

The SSP said, “When he (Lakhwinder) threw a bucket full of petrol and lighted the match, his hands, too, caught fire.” The police said the role of Lakhwinder’s father and brother was being looked into.

While Balwant’s mother Bachan Kaur (70), daughters Jasbir Kaur (17), and Tasveer Kaur (15) died in the attack, Balwant, his wife Veerpal Kaur and his son Satveer Singh (10) are under treatment.

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The Tribune – Pre-poll violence unabated; 2 killed in Amritsar village clash

P K Jaiswar, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 17. A day after the killing of a Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) leader in Bathinda, two persons were shot dead in an exchange of fire between two groups at Chak Mishri Khan village in Lopoke near here this morning, pushing the toll in the run-up to the May 19 local body elections in Punjab to four.

The deceased are Congress worker Gurjinder Singh of the Master Manjit Singh group and SAD worker Balkar Singh, an associate of Chak Mishri Khan village Sarpanch Jagir Singh. The injured has been identified as Major Singh, also an associate of Jagir Singh. He is admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here.

Tension was brewing between two groups of Chak Mishri Khan village over a consensus to elect the village panchayat, without polls. Both groups were preparing for Panchayat elections though members of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti were elected unanimously after the Congress decided not to contest. The SAD leader wanted unanimous election to the village Panchayat, but Manjit Singh was opposing the move, it is learnt.

Today, Jagir Singh and his armed companions, who were camping in the house of his associate Shinder Singh in the village, moved towards Manjit Singh’s house with an intention of attack. On the way, Congress worker Gurjinder Singh tried to stop them and asked them to settle the dispute with “mutual understanding”. Jagir and his group were in no mood to relent and reportedly opened fire, killing Gurjinder.

Jagir Singh and his men then reached Manjit Singh’s house, where they were allegedly fired upon. Major Singh said Manjit and 20 others attacked them. Balkar Singh suffered a gunshot injury in the firing and died on the spot.

However, Border Range IG Ishwar Chander Sharma and DIG Paramraj Singh Umranangal, in a hurriedly convened press conference, said the incident was the outcome of personal enmity between two groups.

“There was a controversy between two groups in the village over possession of land measuring over two kanals between two groups headed by Jagir Singh and Manjit Singh. This was the reason behind today’s firing and subsequent killing of two persons” said Ishwar Chander.

On the statement of Gurjinder’s son, the police have booked 14 persons, of which three persons — including Jagir Singh, Mangat Singh and Major Singh — have been arrested. Narinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Nirmal Singh besides others are at large and a manhunt has been launched to arrest the remaining accused, he said.

As many as 15 police parties headed by SHOs from Batala and Amritsar Rural police have been conducting raids at various places to nab the accused. Senior police officials including SSP Amritsar rural police district have been stationed at Lopoke to supervise the operation.

The firing incident has raised a question mark, as the police administration had already launched a drive to deposit licenced arms. The arms used in the crime belonged to Narinder Singh, a former sarpanch of the village. He is affiliated to Jagir Singh, present Akali Sarpanch from Chak Mishri Khan village.

DIG Border Range Paramraj Singh Umranangal said till today morning, 85 per cent licenced arms had been deposited with respective police stations in police districts falling under the Border Range. He said the remaining weapons would be in police custody by the evening.

District Rural Congress president Harpartap Singh Ajnala condemned the incident and said it had nothing to do with the ongoing Zila Parishad polls and was the result of tension between two groups regarding forthcoming Panchayat elections.

Killing fields

May 16: One person killed in a shootout at a PPP-Congress rally in Adampur in Jalandhar; Congress worker Rajwinder Singh injured
May 15: Nine persons belonging to two groups of the ruling SAD injured in a fierce hour-long clash at Mianwala village in Tarn Taran
May 8: Youth Congress leader Sukhraj Singh shot dead in Tarn Taran
May 7: Personal assistant of Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi , Guruharsahai legislator, attacked

Both killed by same weapon

The death of SAD worker Balkar Singh has become a mystery for the police. Investigations pointed out that the same weapon was used to kill both Gurjinder and Balkar, which raises a question mark on the theory of Balkar being killed in crossfire. DIG Border Range Paramraj Singh Umranangal confirmed doubts over whether crossfiring had taken place, adding that the firearm used in the crime has been recovered.

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The Asian Age – PM ‘power centre’ in government: Digvijay Singh

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 18 May, 2013. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Friday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is the “power centre in governance” and “for political matters it is, of course, Mrs Sonia Gandhi”.

Mr Singh, a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, is an AICC general secretary. His remarks on the controversy over “power centres” come as the UPA-2 government completes four years on May 22.

“There has to be one power centre and here the power centre is Dr Manmohan Singh in governance. And for political matters it is, of course, Mrs Sonia Gandhi,” Mr Singh told NDTV.

“Both are working separately in their own domain, Dr Manmohan Singh takes all decisions in the government of India, and Mrs Sonia Gandhi takes all decisions in the organisation,” he added.

Seeking to explain the context of his earlier remarks, which had triggered a controversy, Mr Singh said because of the media hype and Opposition’s allegations there is a general perception among the bureaucracy and in other forms of government that there are dual power centres.

“This is a perception created by the media — that there are dual power centres, a perception created by the Opposition. Frankly the Congress president has never interfered in the functioning of the government, not once,” he said.

http://www.asianage.com/india/pm-power-centre-govt-diggy-895

530. The Man in Blue – Panj Ab = Five Waters

I wrote this article after hearing a lecture at the KU (Catholic University) of Leuven, Belgium, by Christophe Masson, India Desk Officer at the European Commission. He mentioned a water related project in Rajastan, which made me think of the Indira Gandhi Canal, and from there of the ever lower groundwater level in Panjab. Man in Blue

The historical Panjab, from the river Indus in the west to the river Yamuna in the east, was called the Panj-Áb, the five waters after the five rivers that flow from the Himalayas to the Indus.

Panjab is not as dry as Rajasthan, but without the five rivers most of its territory would be a dry steppe, fit for grazing but no good for arable land.

Since the green revolution the standard crop pattern in the Indian Panjab and in Haryana is wheat – rice. Wheat is the early crop and after its harvest most of the arable land is converted to paddy fields. Panjab became the rice provider of India.

Due to the paddy fields the farmers were using more water than the rivers could supply and they started to pump-up ground water to irrigate their fields. This costs money, as hand pumps are not adequate for the job. The Panjab state government decided to supply the farmers with free electricity for their tube-wells.

As the state government has the habit of either not paying or late paying the state electricity provider, one semi-state company has already given up the ghost, and its successor is struggling. Somebody has to foot the bill !

But the most alarming result of this scheme is that the groundwater table is going down fast, the tubes are getting longer and with that the energy use goes up too.

At Harike, in the south-west of the Indian Panjab starts the Indira Gandhi canal, which takes vast amounts of river water to Rajasthan. This water is obviously no longer available for either the Pakistan or the Indian Panjab. How much of this water evaporates before it gets to the Jaisalmer area I do not know.

Whether it is useful to infiltrate this water in a desert area I do not know either. I have heard reports of salinization of the irrigated fields, which does not surprise me at all.

But my main issue is with the madness of having paddy fields in a dry area like Panjab. After independence it made some sense as the rice eating states were not able to grow enough rice for their needs. Now these states have become self-sufficient and it is high time for a new green revolution in the Panjab.

The farmers are reluctant to change, but if the Panjab is to survive as at least the main provider of wheat, the paddy fields have to go. Alternative crops, dairy farming, market gardening (growing of vegetables) are the answer.

On the rich clay soils of Panjab many crops will thrive. With temperatures ranging from a minimum of near 0 degrees in December/January to a maximum of 50 degrees in May/June both crops that we know in Western Europe and subtropical to tropical ones can be grown.

In view of the above and the diminishing flow of water from the Himalayan glaciers, continuing with the present practice just is not an option.

The Tribune – One killed, three injured in firing at Congress-PPP rally; Prohibited US carbine used Jakhar, Manpreet blame SAD; Police says it was out of old rivalry

Jupinderjit Singh, Tribune News Service

Adampur (Bathinda), May 16. One person was killed while three others sustained injuries when armed assailants, allegedly owing allegiance to the ruling SAD, opened fire at a joint Congress-People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) rally here today.

The deceased, Jaspreet Singh Jassa, was an aide of Lakhbir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana, a PPP leader who was among those injured. Over 60 rounds were reportedly fired from various weapons, including a .30 US carbine (a prohibited weapon), a .30 pistol and a .12 bore gun. Sources said the target was Lakha as the firing took place just minutes before he was to get into his car.

Lakha had addressed the rally in favour of Congress candidate Malkiat Singh, who is contesting the zila parishad election from Bhai Rupa zone. Malkiat’s son Rajwinder Singh alias Raju was also wounded.

The Congress and the Sanjha Morcha have been contesting the zila parishad elections on a seat-adjustment basis.

Lakha suffered four gunshot wounds in his abdomen, shoulder and ankle. He was operated upon at a Bhucho Mandi hospital where his condition was stated to be serious. The third injured, Balbir Singh, was also Lakha’s associate.

Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Ravcharan Brar, however, denied the attack was out of political rivalry. He said Balbir had identified one of the assailants as Jagseer Singh alias Seera. He said Lakha and Seera were old rivals. “The assailants chose an election rally for the attack to avoid suspicion. But, we have identified them and they will be arrested soon,” the police officer said. He said Lakha himself was booked in 11 cases, including attempt to murder.

An eyewitness said, “When the assailants opened fire, Lakha managed to get out of his car and hid behind a cement platform. But, Jaspreet could not run to safety… Lakha and his supporters were armless.”

District Magistrate K K Yadav said the security of candidates would be upgraded. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S S Brar said he had sought a report from the police.

Wake up Mr Badal, says Manpreet

PPP chief Manpreet Badal termed the incident as “murder of democracy”. He appealed to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal “to learn from Nawaz Sharif’s experiences in Pakistan who returned to power despite being hounded by Pervez Musharraf for years”. He said Badal should leave his ‘Dhritrashtra’ stance and take tough decisions for the safety of the state people. He said today’s attack proved that Badal, his son
and other SAD leaders “could go to any extent to remain in power”.

Reeks of political terrorism: Jakhar

Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar has alleged that the attack was scripted by Akali goons. He, however, claimed Congress leader Gurpreet Kanger was the target. Demanding a judicial probe into all incidents of attacks on Congress leaders, Jakhar alleged that political terrorism was prevailing in the state at the behest of the SAD-BJP leadership. Jakhar appealed to the Election Commission to intervene and send
outside observers to ensure free and fair elections.

Was PPP leader Lakha the target

Eyewitnesses said Lakhbir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana, a People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) leader was the target. Lakha was booked about a week ago for illegally possessing a .315 bore gun. PPP district president Jagtar Singh, however, claimed the case was false as the weapon was owned by Lakha’s mother. Once considered close to Akali leader and Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Lakha had unsuccessfully
contested the assembly election against Maluka from Rampura Phul constituency. Jakhar, though, claimed Gurpeet Kanger was the target.

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Sikh clergy fails to arrive at decision on memorial row; Takht Damdama Sahib chief, Golden Temple Head Granthi favour retaining Bhindranwale’s name on plaques

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 15. The meeting of the Sikh clergy ended on an inconclusive note here today. Terming the controversy over Operation Bluestar Memorial as an internal matter of the Sikhs, the high priests said nobody should be allowed to publicly air views on the matter.

Addressing mediapersons, Akal Takht chief, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said nobody had the right to issue “unnecessary statements” on the row.

He said the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal would be asked to sit across the table and resolve the issue. He said they had received suggestions from various quarters which too would be discussed before a decision was arrived at.

The chances of the matter being resolved before Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6 appear slim. On the demand by some political parties that plaques with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s name be removed, he said: “It is our internal matter and we will decide on it.”

Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Golden Temple’s Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh, expressing their personal views, said they were in favour of retaining plaques with Bhindranwale’s name.

Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh refused to comment on the matter. He, however, said the young generation of Sikhs was in favour of retaining Bhindranwale’s name.

Asked about the Operation Bluestar anniversary, the Akal Takht chief said it would be observed at Akal Takht and not the memorial. There would be ‘Gurbani path’ at the memorial, which is in the form of a gurdwara, but akhand path would not be held there. He ducked queries on the memorial row apparently, hinting that the clergy did not want another controversy before June 6.

The SGPC and the Taksal have been at loggerheads for the past fortnight over Bhindranwale’s name on plaques installed at the memorial. Earlier, the Dal Khalsa had submitted a memorandum, requesting the Akal Takht Jathedar to resolve the memorial row “keeping the collective will of the community and historical traditions in mind.” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh blamed SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for creating the controversy with his “unnecessary statements.”

The Sikh clergy also discussed the demand by non-Sikh communities that they be allowed to perform marriages as per the Sikh rituals (Anand Karaj). The Akal Takht chief said they would put forth the matter before Sikh intellectuals before taking any decision.

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The Tribune – Good relations with Pakistan vital for resolving tricky issues: Sushil Kumar Shinde

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 15. Close on the heels of Nawaz Sharif — who is certain to be the new Pakistan Premier after his emphatic election win —seeking warmer ties with India, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday said good relations with Islamabad were vital for resolving tricky issues between the two countries.

“When Nawaz Sharif’s party was leading in majority of seats, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had congratulated him and in return Sharif had invited the Prime Minister to attend his swearing-in. It’s a good initiative. Such initiatives can greatly help in resolving tricky issues,” Shinde told reporters here.

On being asked if government agencies have made an assessment of the situation in Pakistan after elections, Shinde said: “It was too early to make a review”.

In December 2012, Shinde had to face an embarrassment when his then Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during his visit to India had equated Babri mosque demolition to terror attacks. Malik at that time had even claimed that 26/11 mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had been arrested in Pakistan. Later, it was revealed that Saeed had never been arrested. Shinde had told Malik that it was of “paramount importance” to bring perpetrators of terror strikes to justice for smoother Indo-Pak ties.

The Home Ministry, meanwhile, has asked all states to set up fast-track courts to take up cases of youth jailed for suspicion of being involved in terror cases. The Centre has sent an advisory to states and was also trying to find out how many Muslim inmates (involved in terror cases) were in jail.

“We are trying to ascertain the facts. It will take time. We have asked the states to set up fast-track courts,” Shinde said. Minister of State for Home RPN Singh had informed Parliament recently that under the NIA Act, the Central Government had set up 39 special courts to take up terror-related cases. About three months ago, Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan had expressed concern over “wrong arrests” of Muslim youths in different parts of the country in terror cases. He had taken up the matter with Shinde and had proposed setting up of special courts to ensure speedy trial in such cases.

No decision on Bhullar

On demand for commuting the death sentence of terrorist Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, the Home Minister said he had received a number of representations but no decision has been taken yet. “We are still looking into these demands,” he said.

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The Tribune – Remove all controversial objects from Op Bluestar memorial: BJP; State chief says party to give ample time to SAD before taking any further step

S P Sharma, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 12. BJP state president Kamal Sharma today said before taking any further step, the party would provide ample time to its coalition partner the SAD to get all objects glorifying militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Operation Bluestar memorial.

Sharma said following objections raised by the BJP, the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) had got some of the objects removed but a few inscriptions continued to be there on marble slabs. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had set up a committee for the purpose, “but a few radicals were trying to create hurdles”.

“A handful of radicals are trying to keep alive their provocative agenda, which had reversed Punjab’s growth during the dark days of terrorism. Radicals are detrimental to the interests of not only Punjab but the entire country. Our state has already paid a heavy price for the decade-long violence,” he said.

Sharma claimed a phase of development had been launched in Punjab by the coalition government and the last assembly elections were fought on that (development) agenda itself. On the “differences” between the coalition partners, he said district-level coordination committees of both the parties would meet in case there were any such issues.

“The SAD is a trusted ally of the BJP and both the parties will unitedly contest the next Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

On elections to panchayati raj institutions, he said the BJP had reached a seat-sharing formula in most parts of the state. But, he affirmed, there were seats where BJP nominees were pitted against those of the SAD. “The BJP has won unopposed a zila parishad and 14 panchayat samiti seats, indicating the party is establishing its roots in rural areas of the state,” he claimed.

Sharma claimed the Congress rank and file was demoralised, as a result of which they were “circulating fabricated stories of attack on their activists”. “The peasantry is annoyed with the Congress for the move by its central leadership to levy wealth tax on farmers,” he added.

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